Economic abuse is a form of domestic abuse that affects a person’s ability to access, use, or keep their money and resources. Gambling can be connected to economic abuse. Research has documented that women are more likely than men to be harmed by a family member’s gambling and experience economic abuse, such as having their credit/debit card being used to gamble without permission or being coerced into taking out a loan. Women experiencing domestic abuse may also gamble as a way to cope with trauma, isolation, or stress. At the same time, women who are negatively affected by someone else’s gambling may also be experiencing harm from their own gambling.

In recent years, gambling-related harms have emerged as a public health priority. This also leads to an increased emphasis on screening for problem gambling. Early detection of problem gambling may help to reduce associated harms. But clinical settings need to choose an appropriate screening tool based on their context and available resources. A substantial body of research has found that gambling and substance use disorders often cooccur. Given this, researchers have recommended routine screening and clearer referral pathways for gambling disorder (GD) in substance use treatment services. That said, several barriers stand in the way. People experiencing GD may face more stigma compared to people experiencing a substance use disorder. Moreover, service providers may not feel adequately equipped to address gambling-related harms.

Gambling can lead to negative consequences across various areas of life, including finances, health, wellbeing, and relationships. Close contacts of people experiencing problem gambling can also be affected. Previous research has mostly focused on close contacts of people experiencing problem or disordered gambling. But even close contacts of people who do not meet the thresholds for problem or disordered gambling may experience harms. The purpose of this study was to examine the link between a person’s mental health and emotional wellbeing, and their spouse or cohabitating partner’s Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) score. The PGSI is a widely used measure of gambling behaviour and related harms.

Adolescent gambling is a public health concern in many countries. Adolescents are at a vulnerable stage of development and may engage in various high-risk behaviours, including gambling. Because adolescents spend a lot of time at school, teachers are in a good position to be able to notice and respond to signs of gambling-related harm. But it is important that teachers are aware of risky gambling behaviours and have the knowledge and confidence to address such behaviours in their students. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers’ awareness of and attitudes towards adolescent gambling in the Republic of Ireland. The study replicated previous studies on teachers’ perspectives on adolescent gambling in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Gambling is regulated under a hybrid governance model in England. The Gambling Commission is the national regulator, while local authorities issue licensing premises for land-based gambling. This study explored how public health and licensing staff in local governments in London understand gambling harms and what helps or hinders the use public health approaches to address these harms.

Livestreaming through platforms such as TikTok Live and Twitch has become popular among young adults. It is estimated that people aged 18 to 24 make up 40% of Twitch's global audience. This demographic overlaps with the legal gambling age in many countries. Gambling livestreams are among the most-watched categories. In gambling livestreams, content creators broadcast themselves engaging in gambling, while people watch and interact through live chat. Many streamers are sponsored by or are paid affiliates of gambling operators. Unlike traditional advertising, livestreams are highly engaging and interactive. People may experience streamers’ emotions and reactions as if they were their own. Furthermore, the live broadcast creates a sense of shared social space and belonging. People may develop parasocial relationships, or one-sided emotional bonds that they form with streamers. These mechanisms can help explain the appeal of gambling livestreams and the influence that streamers have on young people.

Public health messages are a tool for health agencies to address population-level harms such as gambling. These messages can counter the harmful ideas presented in gambling advertisements and reduce gambling-related harm by enabling behaviour change. For these reasons, the UK government plans to invest in such campaigns. As industry messaging frames harm as a personal problem, counter-industry messaging emphasizes corporations’ role in creating harm. In the past, these campaigns have been shown to increase awareness of problematic substance use and lead to positive behaviour change.

Gambling advertisements are common on social media. Content marketing advertisements are designed to blend in with other content, which makes them harder to recognize as advertising. Furthermore, the use of humour, memes, and cultural references may make content marketing more emotionally appealing. This study is guided by the Limited Capacity Model of Motivated Mediated Message Processing. The model suggests that people have limited attention and mental resources. When advertisements are highly emotional or entertaining, they can take up this attention, making it harder to think critically or recognize that the content is actually advertising. This may be especially true for youth, whose decision-making skills are still developing. Educational programs aim to equip youth with the skills needed to recognize and resist gambling advertising. However, their effects have been limited.

Gambling-related harm is a major public health challenge. Problem gambling can impact various areas of life, including relationships, health, finance, and employment or study. People who experience gambling disorder are at increased risks for other heath conditions, such as depression and anxiety disorders, as well as suicide. Yet, rates of help-seeking for gambling harm are low. In the United Kingdom, it has been reported that people experiencing gambling harm are more likely to consult their doctors for mental health concerns, be admitted to hospital, and receive psychological counselling than people who do not gamble. A Canadian study found that people who had a history of problem gambling and died by suicide were less likely to use health and social services in the year before their death and throughout their lifetime.

United Kingdom (UK) Armed Forces veterans have higher rates of gambling-related harm than the general population. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of gambling-related harm among UK Armed Forces veterans. The study examined how military culture, institutional practices, and transitions to civilian life might influence gambling behaviours and prevent helpseeking, and the long-term impact on well-being.

Gambling advertising can influence gambling attitudes, behaviours, and intentions. Such advertisements can be found on television, social media, and in live sporting events. Some studies have found that people who see more gambling ads are more likely to report an increase in gambling. When looking at the demographics of people who gamble, young men are a group which seems at risk for reporting gambling and experiencing gambling harms. Given the link between exposure to gambling advertising and experience of gambling harms, it is worth examining if gambling operators are specifically targeting ads towards young men.

The gambling industry has been known to use several slogans as part of its safer gambling policies, such as “gamble responsibly”. However, research has found that industry-funded messages are ineffective at changing people’s gambling behaviours and preventing gambling harms. In Australia, seven independently designed messages are currently used nationally. Three messages are designed to warn people about the likelihood of losing. Three messages are designed to help people self-appraise their gambling behaviours. One message focuses on the positive aspects of not gambling (“Imagine what you could buy instead”).

Gambling-related harm is a significant public health concern. Harm associated with gambling includes financial difficulties and relationship breakdown, among other negative effects. Gambling-related harm is met with public stigma. For example, people experiencing gambling-related harm are often viewed negatively, such as lacking in self-control and being aggressive. Stigma can act as a barrier that prevents people from seeking help.

Gambling can lead to serious harms. For governments, the costs associated with gambling harms include those related to healthcare, crime, unemployment, and productivity. Given this, there is a need for research to better understand the broader economic implications of gambling. One method to study the impact of gambling is public health economic modelling. This approach involves viewing gambling from a public health lens and analyzes the costs and benefits for the entire population. However, it is essential that gambling harms are accurately measured. To date, there have been numerous approaches used to capture gambling harms; however, there is no agreed-upon standardized method for doing so.

Gambling has increasingly become a normal part of how people engage with professional football. Besides watching professional football matches, many football fans also participate in grassroots football. But there is not much research on the link between gambling and playing grassroots football. Using an online survey, this study examined the prevalence of gambling behaviours and gamblingrelated harms among people who play grassroots football in England. The researchers further explored how gambling becomes embedded in grassroots football culture through in-depth interviews.

The protection of children is often emphasized in discussions about problem gambling. This is based on the assumption and some research evidence suggesting that childhood exposure to gambling (e.g., through parents) is linked to a higher risk of problem gambling later in life. Past studies on this topic have some limitations. For example, studies have had small samples of participants that were not representative of the population. Studies have also used in-person or telephone survey methods, which may cause people to provide biased answers that are seen more positively by others. In addition, conflicting results across studies implies a need for more research. In this study, the researchers looked at the relationship between childhood exposure to gambling and adult problem gambling in a nationally representative sample using an online survey approach.

Armed Forces service personnel are at higher risk of experiencing gambling harm compared to the general population. The purpose of this study was to examine the support available within the UK Armed Forces for personnel experiencing gambling harm. The study also identified barriers to seeking support.

Gambling often co-occurs with other addictive behaviours, such as smoking and alcohol use. More evidence is needed to better understand how gambling-related harm may be linked to smoking and alcohol use in the UK. This understanding can inform the development of evidence-based interventions and policies. Using data from a population-based survey, this study examined how smoking and risky drinking are related to problem gambling, episodes of loss of control, and attempts to reduce or stop gambling.

Gambling harm can affect not only people who gamble but also their families, communities, and the broader society. In the United Kingdom, the 2024 Young People and Gambling Survey reported that 27% of adolescents aged 11 to 17 years old had spent their own money on gambling activity in the last 12 months. Moreover, 1.5% of adolescents experienced problem gambling, increasing from 0.7% in 2023

In recent years, gambling marketing has increased in many countries. Gambling marketing practices have also become more sophisticated and diverse. Moreover, the industry has been using financial inducements to attract new customers and retain current ones. Financial inducements are promotional offers such as free bets, deposit matches, and welcome bonuses. Some people view inducements as providing value. However, research has found that inducements can increase the risk for gambling harms. Inducements can make people feel like they are not betting with their own money, gamble more frequently, and place riskier bets.